Authors: Cockerham, Kimberly; Aro, Seppo; Liu, Wentai; Pantchenko, Oxana; Olmos, Andrea; Oehlberg, Mark; Sivaprakasam, Mohanasankar; Crow, Lauren

Source: Expert Review of Medical Devices, Volume 5, Number 3, May 2008 , pp. 371-381(11)

Publisher: Expert Reviews

Abstract:

Translational research may lead to development of micro-electromechanical system-based devices to treat muscle and nerve dysfunctions whose current treatments are inadequate and, at best, palliative. This paper discusses the development of engineered microsystems as a treatment option for palsies of the seventh cranial nerve and the potential application of these devices as a platform technology for treatment of other nervous dysfunctions. The engineering techniques for electrical and chemical stimulation of denervated muscle are discussed along with current caveats from clinical and engineering standpoints. As opposed to current treatments, miniaturized implants offer the possibility of the reduced toxicity and increased specificity of direct drug delivery. As with the increased miniaturization of other technologies, engineering of these increasingly small implantable microsystems holds great promise for the future development of yet smaller, even nanoscale, implantable devices.

Keywords: Bell's palsy; chemical stimulation; electrical stimulation; facial nerve; MEMS; micro-electromechanical system; microfluidics; micromachine; orbicularis oculi; Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome; seventh cranial nerve

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/17434440.5.3.371

Affiliations: 1: Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA., Email: kpcorb@aol.com

Publication date: 2008-05-01

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